Kerry busts out some French

2/27/13 4:48 PM EST

[W]hile Kerry seemed a bit rusty, his opening remarks at a joint press conference with the French foreign minister sounded pretty solid to this native speaker... And he poured on the charm to please his audience.

“We’ve just finished one of those wonderful French lunches that have never ceased drawing Americans to Paris for centuries,” he said, seemingly reading from notes or prepared remarks. And he also joked about anti-French sentiment in the United States. “And now I’ll speak in English because otherwise they won’t let me return home.”

Kerry’s gesture thrilled the French, who appreciate it when visiting dignitaries make an effort to speak their hosts’ language.

During his presidential run in 2004, Kerry was lambasted for speaking French - and not being American enough. It's unclear if he'll get the same criticism now that's he's secretary of state.